DRIFT TO THE POLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10950, 12 July 1921, Page 6

DRIFT TO THE POLE

AMUNDSEN, FORCED TO BREAK HIS VOYAGE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SEATTLE,’ July 9. Captain Amundsen has arrived from Nome. Ho will residevat Seattle for a year to repair the Maud’s propeller. Meantime he will finally arrange tho drift to the Pole. He sails front Seattle next Juno,

Captain Roald Amundsen, who is 48 years of age, is a famous Norwegian explorer, his greatest accomplishment being to reach the South Polo before the ill-fated expedition led by Captain Scott. He left - Norway in the Fram (renamed the Maud), on a North Polar expedition in the summer of 1918. It was intended to journey by sea to Nome, Alaska, and the plans contemplated a drift across the Pole. In September, 1918, the Maud called at Dixon Island, in the White Sea, for oil for her motors, and no further word came from her till April, 1920. Amundsen had then arrived at Anaydn, in Siberia, after having been baffled by paok-ice. He intended to go on to Alaska, and then make a fresh attempt to drift over the polar region. He set out again at the end of July, intending to sail to the wesfc of Wrangel Island and then turn directly north. Shortly afterwards it was reported that he had lost several of his crew bv desertion. He was apparently compelled by this trouble to return to Alaska.